Suction cleaning device



W. V. ORR.

SUCTION CLEANING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1917. 1,342,592,

Patented June 8, 1920.

. u u I mm 1/ M /VQWME WILLIAM. V. 0BR, OF, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SUCTION CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters 1"atent.

' Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed April 12, 1917. Serial No. 181,888.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. On'n, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Cleveland in the county of duyahoga and State of hio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Suction CleaningDevices, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to suction cleaners and particularly that type ofsuction cleaner employed for indoor domestic use in cleaning floors,floor coverings, draperies, upholstery and the like, and has specificreference to that type of suction cleaners embodying a rotary fan in amovable casing, an inlet mouth for the collection of dust,

refuse and other foreign matter from the surface to be cleaned, and anoutlet from the casing leading to a refuse collection rece tacle.

' the fan comprises a disk and a plurality of fan blades on one sidethereof, there being a marked tendency for the refuse to collect betweenthe disk and adjacent wall of the casing and there serve as a brakeagainst the fan disk. The object of my invention is a suction cleaner inwhich these disadvantages are obviated and the lodgment of refuse matteraround the fan rotating parts is reduced to a minimum or entirelyeliminated. Another object of the invention is the provision of meansfor maintaining the moving parts of the suction cleaner in a free andeasy running condition.

For a better understanding of my invention and of the above enumeratedand other advantages which will hereinafter appear, reference may be hadto the drawings accompanying this application, Figure 1 of which is aside elevation of a suction cleaner illustrating one embodiment of myinvention, with certain of the parts broken away and illustrated insection; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through certain arts ofthecleaner embodyin a slightly mo ified form of my invention; ig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showin another modificationof my invention; 1g. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a suction atinghandle 4 may be suitably attached to the motor casin 1 in any usualmanner this attachment not eing illustrated or forming a part of thisapplication. 7 The suction cleaner as a whole is mounted onrollers orcasters 5 and in operation the suction cleaner is run along the surfaceto be cleaned with the mouth of the nozzle '3 runnin along ad acent thesurface, the motor and fan operatlng to suck the refuse matter upthrough the nozzle 3 into the fan chamber,

and thence out through an outlet 6, the outlet 6 leading to a collectionbag or other refuse receptaclein a well understood manner.

On the forward end of the motor casing 1 is mounted a circular plate 7which serves as a partition between the motor chamber and the fanchamber in the fan casing 2. This plate also serves as a bearing for themotor shaft 8 which projects through and beyond the plate 7 and on theoverhanging end thereof the fan rotating fan structure are mounted.

bodies a plurality of fan blades 9 which are secured to and pro'ectoutwardly from a fan disk 10, this fan disk 10 having in its center anaperture for the reception of the overhanging end of the motor shaft 8.to which the fan is fixedly attached. The bearing for the motor shafton. the stationary circular arts of the his fan emplate 7 projectsoutwardly toward the fan structure and serves "as a stop to limit thein; Ward movement of the fan disk 10. There is therefore providedbetween the stationary plate 7 and the fan disk 10 an annular chainber11 around the motor shaft bearing; and this chamber 11 is inclosed andits outlet restricted by means of an annular flange or rim 12 projectingoutwardly from the stationary plate 7 and embracing the fan disk 10,suflicient pla being provided between the periphery o the fan disk 10and the flange 12 to insure unobstructed rotary movement of the fanblades and disk. Heretofore difficulties have been experienced insuction cleaners of the prior art due to refuse and other foreign matterbecoming lodged in the chamber 11 between the closin plate 7 and the fanblade plate 10. This refuse matter often caused clogging of the fanrotating parts and the c ogging was aggravated in suction cleanersembodying a fan disk 10 of a thin structure, the thin fan disk due tothe air pressure createdby the fan blades and due to the high rotaryspeed becoming distorted and thereby rubbing against the refuse mattercollected between the stationar and the rotating parts. I have found tat by providing the annular flange or rim 12 around the periphery of theplate 7 and having it. project forwardly and embrace the periphery ofthe disk 10 and at the same time providing ventilating openings 13 inthe plate 7, the tendency for the collection of dustand other foreignmatter in the chamber 11 is greatly lessened. The plate 7 should alwa shave ventilating openings therein of su cient capacity to freely admitair currents to the chamber 11.

Apparently the lessening of the tendency for the collection of foreignmatter rearward of the fan plate 10 is due to an artificial draft set.up from the motor chamber through the openings 13 in the plate 7 andthence around the periphery of the disk 10 and the flange 12, or thereappears to be set up in the chamber 11 an air pressure opposed to thatset up by the fan blades 9, this counter pressure being sufficientto-prevent the entry of foreign matter from the fan casing 2 into thechamber 11 through the restricted passage around the periphery of thedisk 10.

In any event the provision of the restricted passage between theperiphery of the disk 10 and flange 12 and the ventilating openings 13seems to avoid to a great extent the collection of refuse matter in thechamber 11 and I ascribe this result to the creation of a countercurrent or draft as is indicated. Itmay be that this air pressure ordraft is created by the aspiratory action of the fan rotating parts andI have found that this counter current may be substantially increased byextending the fan blades 9 radially outward on the disk 10 beyond theperiphery of the flan e 12. This feature of extending the fan b ades 9outwardly beyond the flange 12 is preferably embodled in all themodifications set forth herein, and is best illustrated in Fig. 6.

While the structure illustrated in Fig. 3 has been found to operatesuccessfully, I have found it desirable in some instances to enhance thecounter current set up in this structure by incorporating on therearward side-of the fan disk 10 auxiliary fan blades 14 as shown inFig. 1. These auxiliary fan blades 14 set up an artificial draft fromwithin the motor casing 1 through the ventilating-openings 13 and outthrough the re stricted annular opening between the rim 12 and theperiphery of the fan disk 10. This artificial counter-current preventsthe entry of foreign matter from the 'fan casing 2 into the chamber 11through the opening between the flange 12 and the peripher of the disk10, thus effectually avoiding t e difficulties of clogging the rotatingparts experienced in rior suction cleaners.

he artificial draft created in the structures illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 through the motor casing serves also to cool the driving motor, as forinstance the electric motor shown, and this is an additional advantagewhen the suction cleaner is to be operated by power devices instead ofby gearing con-- nected u with the floor rollers. In Fig. 2 thepartition plate between the motor and the fan chambers is provided witha thickened portion 15 on one side thereof and through this thickenedportion is provided a passage 16 registering with an opening in themotor casing 1 for admittin air currents into the chamber 11. In th1scase the air currents employed for maintaining the chamber 11 clear ofrefuse and other foreign matter are taken directly from the atmospherewithout circulating around the motor. The auxiliary fan blades 14 inFig. 2 are identical with the fan blades 14: illus trated in Fig. 1. I

In Fig. 4 is illustrated another modification of my invention andaccording to this method of avoiding clogging of the rotating parts byrefuse matter collected from the surfaces to be cleaned I position inthe chamber 11 around the motor shaft bearing and between the'stationaryplate 7 and the fan disk 10 a fly member 17. This fly member 17 isprovided with an elongated slot 18 therein and this slot 18 issufliciently large to provide for a free and easy play around and aboutthe motor shaft bearing. The fly member is preferably of a light, toughand wear-resisting material and I have found fiber to be verysatisfactory. Apparently the structure illustrated 'in this figureoperates in a similar manner to that set forth in connection with Fig.3, and in addition theretothe fly member 17 being loosely mounted aroundthe motor shaft bearing is drawn around by friction due to contact withthe rotating disk 10 so that in addition to the air currents induced asset forth in connection with Fig. 3, the member 17 acts as a sort ofrenovating and polishing device which effectually maintains the rotatingparts of the fan and particularly the chamber 11 free from dust andother refuse matter. \The fly member may also tend to create a draftthrough the chamber 11.

While I have set forth my invention in the specific manner required bythe patent statutes, it is understood that the claims 1 hereto attachedare not to be limited to the Having thus described my invention, what.

I claim is 1. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing anda rotatable fan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk, and aplurality of fan blades carried thereby and projecting therebeyond, saidcasing having a recess in which said disk is movably fitted, and thetips of said blades overhanging the mouth of said-recess.

2. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing and a rotatablefan therein,

said fan comprising a supporting disk and a plurality of fan bladesprojecting from and extending radially beyond said disk,

and an annular flange embracing said disk and terminating immediatelybeneath said blades whereby is prevented the lodgment of refuse matterin the space rearward of said disk. I

3. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a rotatablefan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk spaced from anadjacent wall of the casing to form an annular chamber therebetween, anda movable member between said disk and the casing wall adjacent thereto,said fan casing having an axial inlet anda peripheral outlet, saidadjacent wall having ventilating openings and an annular flangeprojecting axially therefrom and embracing said "fan disk, said fanblades extending radially outward from the disk beyond said annular,

flange.

4. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a rotatablefan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk spaced from anadjacent wall to form an annular chamber therebetween, said adjacentwall also having an annular flange embracing said fan disk, and the endsof said blades projecting radially beyond said flange.

5. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a rotatablefan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk spaced from anadjacent wall to form therebetween a restricted annular chamber, and aplurality of fan blades on the opposite side of said disk, said fancasing having an axial inlet and a peripheral outlet, said adjacent wallhaving ventilating openings therein and an annular flange embracing saidfan disk but not embracing the fan blades, said fan blades extendingradially beyond said flange, and rotatable means in the annular chamberfor the purpose described.

6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a rotatablefan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk spaced from anadjacent wall to form therebetween a restricted annular chamber, and aplurality of fan blades on the opposite side of said disk, s'aid fancasin having an axial inlet and a periphera outlet, said adjacent wallhaving ventilating openings and an annular flange embracing said fandisk, and a loosely mounted fly member encircling thefan shaft andlocated in the annular chamber, for the purpose described.

7. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a rotatablefan therein, said fan comprising a supporting disk spaced from anadjacent wall of the casing to form therebetween an annular chamber, anda plurality of fan blades on the opposite'side of said disk, said casinghaving an axial inlet and a peripheral outlet, said adjacent Wall havingventilating openings therein and an annular flange embracing said fandisk but not 'embracing the fan blades, said fan blades extendingradially beyond said flange, and a loosely mounted fly member located inthe fan casing and adapted to be rotated by frictional contact with thero- 'tatable fan disk for the purpose described.

8. Ina suction cleaner, the combination of a motor casing, a fan casing,said casings being separated from each other by means of a ventilatedpartition wall, a rotatable fan in said fan casing comprising asupporting disk spaced from said partition wall to form therebetween anannular chamber, and

' of a motor casing, a fan casing, a ventilated partition wall betweensaid casing chambers,--a rotatable fan in said fan casing comprising asupporting disk spaced from said partition wall to form therebetween anannular chamber, and a plurality of fan blades on the opposite side ofsaid disk, said partition wall having an annular flange embracing saidfan disk, and a loosely mounted fly member encircling the fan shaft andlocated within said annular chamber for the purpose described.

10. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a motor casing, a fancasing, a partition wall separating the two casing chambers, arotatablefan in said fan casing comprising a supporting disk spaced from saidpartition wall to form therebetweenan annular chamber, and a pluralityof fan blades on the opposite side of said disk, said partition wallhaving ventilating openings therein and having also an annular flangeembracing said fan disk but not embracing the fan blades, said fanblades extending radially beyond said flange, and a loosely mountedfibrous fly member encircling the fan shaft and located within saidannular chamber for the purpose described.

11. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a motor casing, a fancasing, said fan casing havin a central axial inlet and a pcripheraloutl et, a ventilated partition wall between the casing chambers, arotatable fan in said fan casing comprising a supporting disk spacedfrom said partition wall to form therebetween an annular chamber, and aplurality of fan blades on the opposite side of said disk, saidpartition wall having projecting therefrom an annular flange embracingsaid disk, and a loosely mounted fly member encircling the fan shaft andlocated within the annular chamber adapted to be driven by frictionalcontact with the fan disk for the purpose described.

12. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing and 'arotatable fan therein said,v fan comprisin a supporting disk and a'plurality of fan lades on one side thereof, said d1sk being spaced fromthe adjacent wall of the casin .to' form therebetween an annular space,said Wall having ventilating WILLIAM V. ORR.

